The Bucs have a young and talented roster. But which players make up the best?

Pro Football Focus named the three players it thinks top the Bucs’ talent pool.

It should come as no surprise that Tampa Bay’s top trio consists of All-Pro free safety Antoine Winfield Jr., Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs and Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans. PFF had this to say about the three:

Antoine Winfield Jr. was the star of the show for the Buccaneers in 2023. His 90.7 overall grade, 91.5 run-defense grade, 92.7 pass-rush grade and 84.0 coverage grade were all career highs except for coverage, which was his second-best mark. His 2023 performance was Defensive Player of the Year worthy.

Tristan Wirfs and Mike Evans didn’t post elite grades — 83.6 and 81.8, respectively — but were still two of the team’s top players. As always, Lavonte David remained incredibly impressive in his older age, and he was considered.

Bucs 2020 Draft Class – The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs and Chiefs DT Chris Jones – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It shouldn’t be lost on anyone that two of the three players PFF named came from the Bucs 2020 draft. General manager Jason Licht traded up in the first round for the first time in his career, one spot to the 13th overall to select offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs.

In the very next round Licht drafted safety Antoine Winfield Jr. with the 45th overall selection. Those two were key cogs in the Bucs’ 2020 run to the Super Bowl in one of the greatest offseason’s in NFL history.

In addition to drafting the young stalwarts, Licht also signed quarterback Tom Brady and traded a fourth-round pick for tight end Rob Gronkowski; both of whom are future Hall of Famers. Those additions helped put a similarly young and talented roster over the top as Tampa Bay beat Kansas City, 31-9, in Super Bowl LV.

Fast-forward to now and Winfield just reset the defensive back market with a record four-year, $84.1 million contract. Wirfs is seeking a deal that could also reset the market at his own position. That deal may exceed $28 million per year.

Mike Evans Continuing His Historic Run

Despite being 30 years old last year, legendary wide receiver Mike Evans continued his torrid pace and extended his record-streak with his 10th consecutive seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards to start a season. He recorded his highest targets (127), receptions (79) and receiving yards (1,255) since the 2018 season.

Evans also caught 13 touchdowns, which was tied for the second-most of his career and tied for the league lead with Miami’s Tyreek Hill. Evans was able to parlay his strong season into a two-year, $41 million contract extension with the Bucs.

Other Players Considered

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

PFF also considered wide receiver Chris Godwin, inside linebacker Lavonte David and defensive tackle Vita Vea as possible candidates for the list before settling on the aforementioned three.

Godwin recorded his third consecutive 1,000-yard season and his fourth in the past five years. That is especially impressive considering he dealt with a torn ACL in the middle of that run. The former Penn State receiver caught 83 of his 123 targets for 1,024 yards and two touchdowns.

While he has been a volume-producer Godwin has seen the effects of an aggressive and physical style of play take a toll on his body as he has lost some of the explosiveness and speed that helped him have a career year in 2019 when he totaled over 1,300 yards, 15 yards per catch and nine touchdowns. But he could still be counted on for a tough catch in traffic and a key first down when needed.

David, like Evans, continued to stave off Father Time with 134 combined tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, five passes defensed and a forced fumble. David continued to play well in all facets of the game, playing stout against the run and pass alike, while also getting an expanded role as a pass rusher he hadn’t seen since the Greg Schiano days.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David and DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Vea had another strong season in 2023 as well, improving as a run defender while maintaining a solid level of play as a pass rusher. He totaled 30 pressures and 5.5 sacks while recording 43 tackles and a career-high 29 defensive stops.

All of the players under consideration from PFF are on veteran deals or, in Wirfs’ case, an additional option year on their original rookie contract. If the Bucs are to continue to be the class of the NFC South it is imperative some of the young players on the roster start to challenge these veterans for the mantle of the top players on the team.

Evans, David and even Vea will start to decline at some point in the near future. Godwin is entering a contract year and isn’t guaranteed to be back in 2025. Wirfs and Winfield cannot be the only stars on a roster full of solid-to-good players if the team wants to contend for Super Bowls consistently.

Players like running back Rachaad White, tight end Cade Otton, right tackle Luke Goedeke, right guard Cody Mauch, defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, outside linebacker YaYa Diaby and cornerback Zyon McCollum have to take another step (or two) to keep the good times rolling for the Bucs.